Vacuum sealing machine



June 6, 195o Q. BJERM' 2,510,457 VACUUM SEALING MACHINE A Filed-Feb. 19, 1945 sheets-sheet 1` June 6, 1950 o. BJERING VACUUM -SEALING MACHINE' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed F'eb. 19,1945

lu-illmm Patented June 6, 1950 VACUUM SEALING MACHINE Olav Bjering, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,728

10 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for vacuumizing and sealing containers. The invention in its preferred form is embodied in a machine for drawing a partial vacuum in jars or other containers after they have been filled with a food product or other commodity, and thereafter forcing a closure device or cap into sealing position on the container. The machine in the form hereinillustrated, comprises a series of vacuumizing and sealing heads or units each including vacuumizing and cap-tightening means, mounted on a carriage rotatable about a vertical axis. The machine includes means for supporting the containers on the rotating carriage and lifting them into operative relation to the sealing units.

An object of the invention is to provide a compact self-contained vacuumizing and sealing unit which can be readily mounted on or removed from the machine without disassembling the sealing head or unit itself, and in which unit the partis which need most frequent service are easily accessible.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide new and improved mechanism for operating the cap-tightening means in synchronism with the lifting of the containers to vacuumizing position.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary part-'sectional plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showing means for positioning and supporting the containers as they rotate with the sealing units.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on a comparatively large scale, of a portion of a vacuumizing and sealing unit, showing particularly the vacuum 'control valve and also an air filter.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a vacuumizing and sealing unit and a portion of the carriage on which it is mounted, a portion of the vacuum bell being broken away,

Fig. 6 is a part-sectional elevation of a vacuumizing and sealing unit, the vacuum control valve being in its closed position.

Fig. 7 is a, similar View but with the valve open and a jar in position to be vacuumized.

Fig. 8 is a section at the line 8-8 on Fig. 7.

The invention in its preferred form as herein illustrated, is embodied in a machine of the general type disclosed in the U. S. patent to Hohl et al., No. 2,338,852, January 11, 1944, Vacuum sealing machine, comprising a rotating carriage with an annular series of vacuumizing and sealing units mounted thereon, pedestals mounted on the carriage for supporting the jars and movable up and down for moving the jars into and out of sealing engagement with the vacuum heads. The present invention is particularly adapted for sealing jars of the type in which the Icaps are forced into sealing engagement with the jars by a straight downward pressure. The invention will be described as used for vacuumizing and sealing jars packed with coffee in granular or comminuted form, although it will :be understood that the invention may be used with other types of containers as well as for packaging other commodities.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises a stationary base IIJ in which is mounted a stationary center `column II. Vacuumizing and sealing heads or units I2, arranged in an annular series, are mounted on a carriage which is supported on the machine base and rotated continuously about the axis of the column II. The carriage includes a. lower platform I3 and an upper platform I4 on which the heads I2 are directly mounted. The carriage is rotated as by means of an electric motor having driving connections therewith through a ring gear I5 bolted to the platform I3 and formed with an extended hub I6 or bearing sleeve surrounding the column II. A collar Il on the hub I 6 and having a screw-threaded connection therewith, provides a support for the upper platform I4 and parts carried thereby. The collar I'l is rotatable for adjusting the platform I4 and heads I2 up and down, and is locked in adjusted position by key I8.

The containers or jars 20 which are to be vacuumized and sealed, are placed on supporting disks or holders 2| on pedestals 22 mounted for up-and-down movement in the platform I3 for lifting the jars into sealing position. The pedestals carry cam follower rolls 23 which run. on a stationary closed cam track 24 mounted on the machine base.

Each vacuumizing and sealing unit or head I2 comprises a cylindrical body 25 which rests on the platform I4, the lower portion 26 of said body being of reduced diameter and extended downward through an opening 21 (Fig. 7) in the platform. A vacuum bell 29 at the lower end of the body 26 provides a Vacuum chamber 28. The bell is removably secured in position by a sleeve 30 threaded onto the lower end of the body 26 and forming a housing for the bell. The sleeve 30 also clamps a ring gasket 3| of rubber or the 3 like to the lower end of the bell, said gasket being positioned and adapted to form a seal between a jar 2U and the vacuum chamber while the jar is being vacuumized.

The cap C which form's a closure for the jar 20 may be of conventional construction and is adapted to be secured to the jar and make a hermetic seal therewith by a straight downward pressure -of the cap on the jar. The assembly of pressure mechanism for this purpose includes a pressure chuck comprising lower and upper plates 32 and 33 respectively, bolted together and thereby attached to a connector 34 by which the chuck is attached to the lower end of a vertical chuck spindle 35. The chuck and connector 34 have a ball and socket connection for free universal movement of the chuck, permitting it to adjust itself to a cap C while the latter is supported in a tilted position on the container. Some vertical play may be provided in the ball and socket joint to accommodate it to any slight variations in the heights of the jars. The lower chuck plate 32 has a series of permanent magnets 31 secured therein for lifting and holding the cap as hereinafter described. The connector '34 is screw threaded into the lower end of a central bore or chamber 38 in the spindle.

A vacuum control valve 38, controlling the application of suction within the vacuum chamber 28, comprises a valve piston mounted for up-anddown movement in the valve chamber 38. A valve stem 48 is attached by a screw-threaded nipple 4I"(Fig. 4) to the valve piston and extends downward through a central bore in the connector 34 and pressure chuck, with the lower end of said stem protruding downwardly beyond the chuck. The valve with its stem 40 is held in its lowered position by its own weight supplemented by a light coil spring 42, except when pushed upward by a jar cap as hereiafter described. A rubber gasket 43 attached to the valve 39 provides a buffer for the valve when the latter is lowered, and also forms an airtight seal preventing leakage'of air through the connector 34. The chuck spindle 35 is slidable within a bushing 44 or sleeve `tted within the body 25. Port openings 45 in the side walls of the valve chamber, at opposite sides of the valve, are in register with elongated openings 46 through the sleeve 44. A collar 45a (Figs. 5 and 7) is threaded onto a tubular extension 45b of the body 25 and provided with'oil sealing rings 45c surrounding the spindle 35 The air is exhausted from the vacuum chambers 28 of the heads I2 in succession, as the carriage rotates, through suction lines individual to said heads, said lines leading from a distributing head at the upper end of the center column II. The distributing head comprises a cylindrical block 41 attached by bolts 48 to a nonrotatable member 49 keyed to the post I I. Suction pipes 50 and attached to the block 41, communicate respectively with distributing chambers 52 and 53 (Figs. l and 2) formed in said block. A distributor plate 54 beneath the block 41 is mounted to rotate with the carriage and is held against the lower face of the block 41 by springs 55. Restricted openings 56 extend downward from the distributing chambers 52 and 53 and are brought into communication in succession with openings 51 extending through the plate 54 and individual to the vacuum sealing heads I2. The suction lines include ilexible pipes 58 attached to the plate 54 and extending from the ports 51 to the sealing heads. Each pipe 58 is attached to a head I2 by an elbow 59 (Figs. 6 to 8), the suction line being extended through a channel 60 to the ports 46, 45. The suction line is continued from the valve chamber through a channel 6I to a chamber 62 within the head 25, in which chamber is mounted an air filter 63. The suction line continues from the air filter downward through a channel tothezvacuum chamber 28. 1 v y i The air filter comprises a cylindrical screen or tube fitted within the chamber S2. The screen is secured in position by a screw-threaded plug 66 which also seals the upper end of the chamber 62. The screen serves to arrest and collect any powdered material which may be drawn by suction from the containers 20, thereby preventing clogging of the suction lines and protecting the valve mechanism and other parts of the machine. The screens can be readily removed for emptying and cleaning, by removing the plug ,66.

The lifting and lowering movements of the suction control valves 39 are under the control of a stationary cam comprising an annular track 61 formed on a cam ring 68. Guide posts 69 attached to the ring 68 extend upward through openings in the stationary block 49 and hold the cam ring against rotative movement. The cam ring is held against up-and-down movement relative to the platform I4 by means of rolls 10 carried on brackets 1I attached to the platform I4, said rolls running in a channel 12 formed in the cam ring 68. With this construction, the carriage is free to rotate independently of the cam ring while providing a support for the latter, and also providing a connection by which the cam ring is adjustable up and down with the platform I4.

The cam 68 provides a continuous closed track on which run cam follower rolls 13 on levers 14 pivoted at 15 on brackets 18 mounted on the bodies 25. Each lever 14 is bifurcated to straddle the collar 45 and is connected through links 11 to a yoke18 slidably mounted on the spindle 35. The yoke is held against rot/ation on the spindle by a key 19. A coil compression spring 88 is held under compression between the yoke 18 and a collar 8| threaded on the spindle, and holds the yoke with a yielding pressure against an adjustable stop nut 82 threaded on the upper end=of the spindle. Adjustment of the nut 82 serves to adjust the vertical position of the spindle, and adjustment ofthe collar 8| adjusts the compression of the spring.

The jars 28 may be placed automatically on the pedestals by a star wheel 83 (Fig. 2) which transfers them from a driving belt conveyor. After the vacuumizing and sealing operation the jars are returned to the conveyor by a star wheel 84. The jars are held in centered position on the disks 2 I by a ring 85 (Figs- 1 and 3) formed with arc-shaped recesses 86. `The ring 85 is carried on hangers 81 depending from the platform I4.

The cam track 61 is designed to impart a single up-and-down swinging movement to each lever 14 during a complete cycle on the machine in synchronism with the up-and-down movement of the associated supporting disk 2|.

Operation y seal the vacuum chamber 28. The pusher plate 32 and its spindle 35 which are in their lowered position (Fig. 6) when the jar commences its upward movement, are moved upward at the same time as-the jar, but at a slower rate such that when the jar is a short distance below its position of sealing Contact with the vacuum chamber, the pusher plate contacts the jar cap C loosely seated on the jar. From this point on the pusher plate rises at a faster rate than the jar so that the cap which is gripped by the magnets 31 is gradually lifted clear of the jar.

A short time before the pusher plate and cap C some together, the cap contacts the valve stem 40 which`protrudes downward beyond the pusher, so that during the continued upward movement of the `jar and cap, thevalve 39 is moved upwardly within and relative to the spindle 35 to open position. The vacuum line is thus opened of air would tend to blow the contents out of the coverless container. v-

Shortly after the jar is lifted and the valve opened, the port 51 (Fig. 1) is brought Iinto line with the ports 56 in succession thereby opening the vacuum line so that air is withdrawn from the vacuum chamber 28 and the jar 20 vacuumized,` first while the line is open through the low pressure chamber 52 of the distributing head and then while open through the chamber 53 in which a comparatively high vacuum may be maintained. After the jar is thus vacuumized,` the cam track 61 operates to lower the spindle 35 and pressure plate 32, thereby forcing the cap C downward into sealing engagement with the jar. Shortly after the jar has been sealed, and while still in its lifted position, the vacuum chamber 28 is opened to atmospheric pressure by the port 51 being brought into register with a vent 51a (Fig: 2). Following this the cam 24 lowers the pedestal 22 so that the vacuumized jar is carried downward away from the sealing head. At the VAsame time that'the pedestal starts downward the ca m 61 imparts a downward movement to the pusher plate, thereby insuring a positive release yThe nut 82 is preferably so adjusted that theyoke 18 `slides downwardly 4a slight distance on the spindle during the sealing operation, compressing the spring 80 and applying a yielding pressure to' the vcap C. The pressure lis regulated by adjusting the collar 8|.

`Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.A

- I`C1ei m=p..l 1. A machine for vacuumizing and sealing containers comprising a vacuum chamber having a bottom opening, a pedestal spaced below said chamber andproviding a support for an openmouthed container, a chuck positioned over said pedestal and mounted for limited up-and-down movement, said chuck comprising cap-gripping means, comprising a cam track and operating means between the cam track and pedestal for moving the pedestal upward and thereby lifting a container thereon into sealing contact with said vacuum chamber opening, automatic means operating in synchronism with the upward movement of the pedestal for lifting the chuck including a cam and operating connections between the cam and chuck, said cam being designed and arranged to lift the chuck from its lowered position to an intermediate position while the pedestal with a container thereon is moving upward and at a slower rate than said upward movement of the pedestal, and causing the chuck to grip a cap seated loosely on the container, said automatic means operating thereafter to lift the cap away from the container as the latter completes its upward movement, means for exhausting the air from the vacuum chamber and thereby vac-v uumizing the container, means for moving the chuck downward and thereby sealing the cap on the container, means for thereafter dissipating the vacuum within said chamber, and means for then simultaneously moving the chuck and pedestal downward for releasing and lowering the container, said machine comprising mechanism interconnecting and cooperating with the means for lifting and lowering the chuck and pedestal and causing said movements of the chuck and pedestal to take place in the said relation and order of sequence.

2; A machine for vacuumizing and sealing containers comprising a vacuum chamber having a bottom opening, a pedestal spaced below said chamber and providing a support for an openmouther container, a chuck positioned over said pedestal and mounted for limited up-and-down movement, said `chuck comprising cap-gripping means, means for moving the pedestal upward at a predetermined speedand thereby bringing a container thereon into position to seal said bottom opening, automatic means comprising a cam and operating connections between the cam and chuck for moving the chuck upward from its lowered position simultaneously with said upward movement of the container, the said cam being designed and operative to effect said upward movement of the chuck at a lower speed than that of the pedestal such that the chuck is caused to contact and grip a cap seated loosely on the container as the latter reaches a predetermined intermediate position during its said upward Y movement, means for accelerating the upward movement of the chuck after gripping said cap a and thereby lifting the cap off the container during the continued upward movement of the container, means for exhausting the air from the vacuum chamber after the said opening therein vvis-A a body having a vertical bore extending therethrough, a vacuum chamber at the lower end of said body, a chuck spindle extending vertically through said bore,fa chuck connected to the spindle and positioned within the vacuum chamber, a valve having sliding connection with the spindle for up-and-down movement relative to the spindle, means providing a vacuum line extending to said valve and from said valve to the vacuum chamber, said valve being positioned and arranged to open and close the vacuum line by said up-and-down relative movement of the valve and spindle, said body having an air filter chamber formed therein within said vacuum line, and an air lter mounted in said air filter chamber.

4. A vacuumizing and sealing unit comprising a body having a. vertical bore extending therethrough, a vacuum chamber at the lower end of said body, a chuck spindle extending vertically through said bore, a chuck connected to the spindle and positioned Within the vacuum chamber, a valve having sliding connection with the spindle for up-and-down movement relative to the spindle, means providing a vacuum line extending to said valve and from said valve to the vacuum chamber, said valve being positioned and arranged to open and close the vacuum line by said up-and-down relative movement of the valve and spindle, said body having an air lter chamber formed therein within said vacuum line, and an air filter tube removably mounted in said lter chamber, said vacuum line including channels opening to the interior and exterior respectively of said tube, one said channel leading to the valve chamber and the other to the vacuum chamber.

5. A vacuum sealing machine comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, sealing units mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith, each said unit comprising a downwardly opening vacuum bell providing a vacum chamber, pedestals mounted on the carriage beneath and in register with said bells, said pedestals being mounted for up-and-down movement on the carriage for lifting containers supported on the pedestals into sealing contact with the vacuum bells and for lowering the containers, chucks individual to said units and mounted for upand-down movement within the vacuum chambers, cap-gripping means on the chucks, a stationary cam track arranged and shaped to lift and lower said pedestals, a second stationary cam track, mechanisms mounted to rotate with the carriage and providing operating connections between said second cam track and the chucks for lifting and lowering the chucks in synchronism with the up-and-down movements of the pedestals, said second cam track being shaped and arranged to cause each chuck to move upward from its lowered position during the upward movement of the associated pedestals but at a slower rate by which the chuck is caused to approach the upwardly moving container and said gripping means is caused to grip a cap seated loosely on the upwardly moving container, the said second cam track being shaped to then impart a more rapid upward movement to the chuck by which the cap is lifted away from the container.

6. A vacuum sealing machine comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, sealing units mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith, each said unit comprising a downwardly opening vacuum bell providing a vacuum chamber, pedestals mounted on the carriage beneath and in register with said bells, said pedestais being mounted for up-and-down movement on the carriage for lifting containers supported on the pedestals into sealing contact with the vacuum bells and for lowering the containers, chucks individual to said units and mounted for up-anddown movement with the vacuum chambers, capgripping means on the chucks, a stationary cam track arranged and shaped to lift and lower said pedestals, a second stationary cam track, mechanisms mounted to rotate with the carriage and providing operating connections between said second cam track and the chucks for lifting and lowering the chucks in synchronism with the up-anddown movements of the pedestals, said second cam track being shaped and arranged to cause each chuck to move upward from its lowered position during the upward movement of the associated pedestal but at a lower rate by which the chuck is caused to approach the upwardly moving container and said gripping means is caused to grip a cap seated loosely on the upwardly moving container, the said second cam track being shaped to then impart a more rapid upward movement to the chuck by which the cap is lifted away from the container, the container being brought into sealing engagement with the vacuum bell vduring the final upward movement of the pedestal,

means for exhausting air from the vacuum chamber and thereby vacuumizing the container, means for sealing the cap on the container, and means for then relieving the vacuum within said chamber, said cams being constructed and arranged to simultaneously move the chuck and pedestal downwardly for positively releasing the container from the vacuum bell and thereafter causing the container to be lowered away from the chuck.

'7. A machine for vacuumizing containers, comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and including a horizontal platform having an opening therethrough at one side of said axis, a sealing unit comprising a body seated on said table over said opening and having a lower end portion of reduced diameter tting in said opening and extending downward therethrough, a vacuum bell at the lower end of said body and forming therewith a vacuum chamber, a chuck within said bell, a chuck spindle extending upwardly from the chuck, said body having a central bore to receive said spindle, means providing a vacuum line extending through said body to the vacuum chamber, means for moving the chuck and spindle up and down, and a valve mounted for movement with the spindle and positioned and arranged to open and close the vacuum line.

8. A machine for vacuumizing containers, comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and including a horizontal platform having an opening therethrough at one side of said axis, a sealing unit comprising a body seated on said table over said opening and having a lower end portion of reduced diameter fitting in said opening and extending downward therethrough, a vacuum bell at the lower end of said body and forming therewith a vacuum chamber, a chuck within said bell, a chuck spindle extending upwardly from the chuck, said body having a central bore to receive said spindle, means providing a vacuum line extending through said body to the vacuum chamber, means for moving the chuck and spindle up and down, and a valve mounted for movement with the spindle and positioned and arranged to open and close the vacuum line, said body having a lter chamber formed therein, and a filter within said chamber, said vacuum line including passageways extending from the valve to the filter chamber and from the lter to the vacuum chamber, said passageways being formed in said body.

9. A machine for vacuumizing and sealing containers comprising a vacuum chamber having a bottom opening, a sealing ring attached to said chamber and defining said opening, a pedestal spaced below said chamber and providing a support for an open-mouthed container, a chuck positioned over said pedestal and mounted for lim- .ited up-and-down movement, said chuck compris- Y'ing means for gripping and lifting a. cap, mechanism for moving the pedestal upward and thereby lifting a container thereon into sealing contact -with said sealing ring and thereby sealing said vacuum chamber opening, automatic means, operating in synchronism with and concurrently with the upward movement of the pedestal, to lift the chuck, said automatic means comprising a cam and operating connections between the cam and chuck, said cam and operating connections being designed and constructed to move the chuck upward from its lowered position to an intermediate position at a slower speed than that of the pedestal, while the pedestal with a container thereon is moving upward, means for causing the chuck to grip a cap seated loosely on the container while the chuck is in said intermediate position, the said cam being designed and operable to move the chuck upwardly relative to the container from said intermediate position during the final upward movement of the pedestal and container, means for exhausting the air from the vacuum chamber and thereby vacuumizing the container, and means for moving the chuck with the cap gripped thereby downward into position to force the cap on the container while the latter is held in said position of sealing contact with the vacuum chamber opening, thereby sealing the cap on the container, said machine comprising mechanism interconnecting and cooperating with the means for lifting and lowering the chuck and pedestal and causing said movements of the chuck and pedestal to take place in the said relation and order of sequence.

10. A machine for vacuumizing containers, comprising a carriage mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a sealing unit mounted on the carriage for rotation therewith, said unit comprising a body, a vacuum bell at the lower end of said body and forming therewith a vacuum chamber, a chuck within said bell, a chuck spindle extending upwardly from the chuck, said body having a central bore to receive said spindle, means providing a vacuum line extending through said body to the Vacuum chamber, means for moving the chuck and spindle up and down, and a valve within said body mounted for movement with the spindle and positioned and arranged to open and close the vacuum line.

OLAV BJERING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

